Process to pack objects using a semi-finished folding carton

ABSTRACT

A method for packaging an object in a folded packaging is provided. The method may comprise the steps of providing a blank sheet, placing an object to be packaged on the blank sheet, folding the blank sheet around a first folding line such that outer surfaces of two wall sections located on the same side of the blank face toward the object, folding the blank sheet around a second folding line such that outer surfaces of three wall sections located on the same side of the blank face toward the object and outer surfaces of second and third wall sections face toward one another, arranging a first joining section which is adjacent the second wall section directly opposite a second joining section which is adjacent the third wall section, and joining the first and second joining sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application Number 102014 223 124.8 filed Nov. 12, 2014, to Aad Hoekstra, currently pending,the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for packaging an object with adefined product form, for example food, such as sandwiches and the like,in a folded packaging. It can be possible to use such a method quicklyand safely in the catering sector, for example in the distribution oftake away food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For acceptance of a packaging method in commercial use, it is essentialthat the packaging process can be carried out quickly and safely so thatthe employee involved in the packaging process can start a new sellingprocess as soon as possible.

Furthermore, a packaging method is preferred where environmentallyfriendly, for example biodegradable, packaging materials can be used.Such packaging materials are meanwhile required by many clients who,after having taken their purchasing decision, do not want to burden theenvironment by the disposal process following consumption of thepurchased article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a packaging methodfulfilling the above mentioned requirements.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, this aim isreached by a method for packaging an object with a defined product forminto a folded packaging, the method comprising the following steps:

-   -   providing a planar blank sheet with at least two folding line        arrangements defined thereon, defining a first wall section        therebetween, the distance between both folding line        arrangements being smaller in common opposing longitudinal end        sections than in a central section located between the common        opposing longitudinal end sections, further defining at least a        second and a third wall section between which the first wall        section is located, the first folding line arrangement being        located between the first and the second wall sections, and the        second folding line arrangement being located between the first        and the third wall sections, and further including at least one        joining section of which at least one portion is adjacent to the        second and the third wall sections,    -   placing the object to be packaged on the blank sheet,    -   folding the blank sheet around one of the two folding line        arrangements in such a way that outer surfaces of two wall        sections located on the same side of the blank sheet are facing        towards the object to be packaged,    -   folding the blank sheet around the other one of the two folding        line arrangements in such a way that outer surfaces of three        wall sections located on the same side of the blank sheet are        facing towards the object to be packaged, the outer surfaces of        the second and third wall sections facing towards each other,    -   arranging a first joining section portion, adjacent to the        second wall section, directly opposite a second joining section        portion, adjacent to the third wall section,    -   joining the first and the second joining section portions to        foini a packaging volume defined by the first, second and third        wall sections as well as by the joining section, wherein the        object to be packaged is located.

The suggested method may allow for the packaging of solid objects, butnot necessarily of liquids.

The method according to the present invention, described in its simplestembodiment, allows the production of a packaging which is closed allaround by folding, the maximum clearance height of the packaging volumeof the packaging formed this way being largely defined by the width ofthe first wall section and its extension depth being defined by thecorresponding dimensions of the second and third wall sections. In thepackaging formed by the above mentioned method, the joining section towhich the second and third wall sections are partly joined, may passfrom one longitudinal end of the first wall section in a round orpolygonal manner to the opposite longitudinal end of the first wallsection. A folded package which in a plan view may be triangular,rectangular, polygonal or round can thus be formed, into whichtriangular or rectangular sandwiches, tramezzini or the like can bepacked. The height of the sandwiches which can be packed into the foldedpackaging formed by the above mentioned method is defined by the widthof the first wall section which at the end of the packaging process isusually opposite an edge or border of the sandwich. Objects other thanfood articles can of course also be put into a packaging using the abovementioned method.

An advantage of the present method and the packaging formed by it on thebasis of a planar blank sheet is that, after opening, the packaging canbe put back into an almost planar state and the packaged object can thenbe presented on a support which has only been contacted by the objectitself.

An embodiment described in the present application as a folding linearrangement can be formed by a folding line or a plurality of at leastpartially parallel folding lines, depending on whether the edge of thepackaging formed by the latter shall rather be sharp or rounded orfaceted. The folding lines can be formed as material pre-weakenings, forexample in the form of a linear embossing or a cutting which is notpassing completely through the material thickness of the blank sheet.

The material pre-weakenings can be formed in the blank sheet to supportfolding in the desired folding direction. Given that wall sections ofthe blank sheet are usually folded onto the object to be packaged, itcan be advantageous to apply material pre-weakenings in the form ofembossings on the side of the blank sheet that will later form the innerside of the packaging. Embossings can be advantageous because they firstprovide depressions displacing the material that will be compressedduring folding.

When the material pre-weakenings are provided in the form of incisions,it can be advantageous to provide them on the side of the blank sheetwhich forms the outer side of the packaging because the incisions areprovided to separate material zones which during folding must bestretched against the direction of their material elasticity.

A joining section on the other side of a common longitudinal end sectionof the two folding line arrangements may extend at a longitudinal end ofthe first wall section to ensure that the packaging space enclosed bythe packaging formed by the above mentioned method can be separated ascompletely as possible from the outer environment. In other words, thejoining section can be adjacent to the first, the second and the thirdwall sections. Then, at least at the longitudinal end of the first wallsection, a closed joining area of the second and third wall sectionsextending up to the first wall section can be formed by joiningassociated joining section portions, for example by adhesive bonding ofthe latter. To be able to also form such a joining section at the otherlongitudinal end of the first wall section, one joining section portionmay be provided at the other side of each of the common longitudinal endsections of the two folding line arrangements, so that a joining sectionportion passes along each longitudinal end of the first wall section oris adjacent to it. For a planar blank sheet this means that the firstwall section may be provided between two spaced joining sectionportions.

To be able to avoid an interspace when forming the joining area of thejoining section portions in the region of the longitudinal ends of thefirst wall section, a third folding line arrangement may be providedwhich extends in continuation of the first wall section into the atleast one joining section located on the other side of the longitudinalend of the first wall section and can pass through it, wherein themethod can comprise the step of folding the at least one joining sectionportion around the third folding line arrangement.

In one embodiment, the first and the second folding line arrangementsmeet at their common longitudinal ends, so that the first wall sectionon the blank sheet may be completely surrounded by the first and thesecond folding line arrangements. The third folding line arrangement canoriginate from the meeting point of the first and the second foldingline arrangements and extend away from the first wall section into thejoining section portion or through the latter. The third folding linearrangement may be formed by exactly one folding line to avoidunnecessary interspaces.

To ensure that the folded packaging can be quickly and easily joined inits joining region, the joining section of the blank sheet may be atleast section-wise provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive or/andwith a cold sealing medium sealing only against itself. If apressure-sensitive adhesive is provided in the joining section, thelatter can be provided with a release layer to enable stacking of theblank sheets without having to fear that they are blocked in the regionof the joining sections. In this case, the method can comprise a step ofactivating a joining section portion, for example pulling off a releaselayer from the joining section. A mechanically connecting joiningsection shall not be excluded, wherein for example foun fit formationsof different joining section portions can be brought into a form fitengagement for closing the packaging.

“Joining sections” in the sense of the present application do not onlyinclude the blank sheet portion provided with an adhesive, form fitformations or the like, but may also include the part of the blank sheetinteracting with the regions provided with the adhesive, form fitformations or the like due to the provided folding lines, i.e., forexample those regions which will be bonded to the regions provided withthe adhesive.

The above mentioned simplest packaging, with the first wall sectionbeing a wall section defining the clearance height of the packaging,tapers towards the packaging end which after folding is remote to thefirst wall section. To provide sufficient packaging height, even in anarea remote to the first wall section of the packaging produced by theabove mentioned method, the method can, according to the presentinvention, be developed further by the planar blank sheet comprising atleast a fourth folding line arrangement defined thereon, the first andthe second folding line arrangements defining between each other thefirst wall section and the fourth folding line arrangement being locatedbetween the second and a fourth wall sections, the second wall sectionbeing located between the first and the fourth wall sections, the methodcomprising the following further step:

-   -   folding the blank sheet around the fourth folding line        arrangement in such a way that outer surfaces of the second and        the fourth wall section located on the same side of the blank        sheet are facing towards the object to be packaged.

The term “fourth” folding line is a consequence of consecutivenumbering. It should be made clear that a fourth folding linearrangement can also be provided without providing the above mentionedthird folding line arrangement.

In this case, in the region of the first wall section, the clearanceheight of the packaging produced may be determined by the width of thefirst wall section and in the region of the fourth wall section by thewidth of the fourth wall section. For obtaining a clearance height whichis as constant as possible across the packaging width, the first and thefourth wall sections may have the same width and can have the sameshape.

Closing the packaging can be further supported in that the planar blanksheets comprise a fifth folding line arrangement defined thereon, thefourth and the fifth folding line arrangements defining the fourth wallsection between each other, the distance between the fourth and thefifth folding line arrangements being, in common longitudinal endsections, smaller than in a central section located between the commonlongitudinal end sections, and the planar blank sheet comprising a fifthwall section, being adjacent to the fourth wall section in such a waythat the fifth folding line arrangement is located between the fourthand the fifth wall sections, the method comprising the following furtherstep:

-   -   folding the blank sheet around the fifth folding line        arrangement in such a way that the outer surfaces of the third        and the fifth wall sections located at the same side of the        blank sheet are facing the object to be packaged, possibly in        such a way that the surfaces of the third and the fifth wall        sections located at the same side of the blank sheet are facing        towards each other.

Here, the third and the fifth wall sections can be used for furtherdelimiting the closed packaging volume against the outer area of thepackaging.

For example, a delimitation of the packaging volume against the outerenvironment can be enforced by the step of folding the third and thefirst wall sections in relation to each other around the second foldingline arrangement and the step folding the fifth and the fourth wallsections in relation to each other around the fifth folding linearrangement comprising a step of a partial overlapping of the third andthe fifth wall sections.

A packaging width which substantially does not exceed the clearanceheight plus the two-fold or three-fold of the material strength of theblank sheet can be obtained when, at the end of the overlapping step, asurface of one wall section of the third or fifth wall sections which isfacing away from the object to be packaged is facing towards a surfaceof the other wall section out of the third or the fifth wall sectionswhich is facing towards the object to be packaged.

The third and the fifth wall sections can be chosen for closing thepackaging because a border region of the third wall section remote tothe first wall section can be provided with a joining means and becausea border region of the fifth wall sections remote to the fourth wallsection can be provided with a joining means, wherein the joining meansand the joining counterpart may be adapted for a material-fit or/andform-fit joining engagement. In this case, the method may comprise thefurther step of bringing into engagement the above mentioned joiningmeans and the joining counterpart. The joining means and the joiningcounterpart can be protruding flaps and cooperating slots orcomplementary interlocking formations or can alternatively or inaddition be a flat adhesive application to portions of one or both abovementioned wall sections.

The above mentioned description of the first wall section and thehermetical closing of the packaging in the region of its longitudinalend also applies to the fourth wall section described in the following,so that according to one embodiment of the present invention a joiningsection portion can be provided so that it extends on the other side ofa common longitudinal end section of the fourth and the fifth foldingline arrangements along a longitudinal end of the fourth wall section oris adjacent to the latter, wherein a joining section portion on theother side of each of the common longitudinal end sections of the fourthand the fifth folding line arrangements may extend along a longitudinalend of the fourth wall section. For ensuring the hermetical closure ofthe packaging in the region of the longitudinal ends of the fourth wallsection, a sixth folding line arrangement in extension of the fourthwall section can extend into the at least one joining section portionlocated on the other side of the longitudinal end of the fourth wallsection and can extend through the latter, wherein the method comprisesfolding of the at least one joining section portion around the sixthfolding line arrangement. What has been said for the third folding linearrangement also applies here. The method can also comprise the step offolding the joining section portion around the sixth folding linearrangement onto itself.

When the first and fourth wall sections are provided, the blank sheetcan be formed with a rectangular basic design. In this case, the joiningsection portions can extend parallel to one another at the planar blanksheet, preferably along parallel sheet edges, with first to fifth wallsections in between.

The at least one joining section can be at least partially straight,making it easier to bring joining section portions associated forjoining in coverage and in abutment, for example for adhesive bonding.

The invention thus also relates to a blank sheet for a folded packagingas it has been described above. More precisely, the present inventionrelates to a blank sheet for a folded packaging with at least twofolding line arrangements defined thereon, defining a first wall sectionin between, wherein the distance between both folding line arrangementsmay be smaller in common longitudinal end sections than in a centralsection located between the common longitudinal end sections, with atleast a second and a third wall section, between which the first wallsection is located, the first folding line arrangement being locatedbetween the first and the second wall sections and the second foldingline arrangement being located between the first and the third wallsections, and with at least one joining section, of which at least oneportion is adjacent to the second and the third wall sections. Such ablank sheet is for example known from EP 0 227 592 A2, however relatingto a blank sheet for manufacturing a fluid packaging, especially a milkpackaging, wherein the packaging is machine-made, wherein especially thejoining sections are joined by mechanical heat-sealing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the joiningsection of the generic blank sheet is at least partially provided with apressure-sensitive adhesive or/and with a cold sealing medium sealingonly against itself to enable manual packaging of non-liquid objects.

The blank sheet described herein can be developed with the sheetcharacteristics mentioned above in the context of the method described.

For facilitating the implementation of the method described above, theblank sheet can furthermore be substantially mirror-symmetric in itsmain extension plane, the mirror symmetry axis extending through thefirst wall section. This applies in particular when only the first wallsection is provided as a wall section determining the packaging height,and when the blank sheet does not comprise a fourth wall section.

The blank sheet can furthermore comprise at least three further foldingline arrangements defined thereon, one further folding line arrangementbeing located between the second and the fourth wall sections and thesecond wall section being located between the first and the fourth wallsections. The further folding line arrangement mentioned hereincorresponds to the fourth folding line arrangement. The advantages ofproviding a fourth wall section have been described above.

When developing the suggested blank sheet, the blank sheet can comprisea further folding line arrangement defined thereon, wherein the furtherand the even further folding line arrangement define the fourth wallsection in between, the distance between the further and the evenfurther folding line arrangement in the common longitudinal end sectionsmay be smaller than in a central section located between the commonlongitudinal end sections, and wherein the planar blank sheet cancomprise a fifth wall section which is adjacent to the fourth wallsection in such a way that the even further folding line arrangement islocated between the fourth and the fifth wall sections. The even furtherfolding line arrangement described herein corresponds to the fifthfolding line arrangement mentioned above.

For effectively storing and stacking the blank sheet, the latter cansubstantially be rectangular. “Rectangular” does not always mean astrict straight border. If necessary, the border of the blank sheet can,between its corner areas, also be curved. However, it will be possibleto identify a substantially rectangular shape, even with curved edges.

Generally, as described above, joining section portions may be straight.In the case of a substantially rectangular blank sheet shape, it ispreferred that at least two border regions arranged at a distance fromeach other, preferably extending substantially in the same direction andoptionally being parallel, are adapted as joining section portions.

The first and, if provided, the fourth wall section at the finishedpackaging can have a concave shape seen from the outside, with an axisof curvature being located outside the packaging, orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction from the longitudinal end section to thelongitudinal end section of the first or, where appropriate, the fourthwall section.

When first and fourth wall sections are provided, the longitudinal endsof the first and fourth wall sections located at the same longitudinalend of the packaging can have a greater distance than a central regionof the wall sections located between these longitudinal end sections.

Hereby the packaging formed according to the above mentioned method canbe provided with greater shape stability.

The blank sheet may be formed from a thin sheet material, compared toits superficial area, for example from paper, carton or cardboard orfrom another fibrous material. A blank sheet made at least partiallyfrom a biodegradable material is particularly suitable. As a protectionagainst fats and oils penetrating into a layer material of the blanksheet, the latter can be provided with an oleophobic coating, forexample with a wax layer or a plastic film.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention will in the following be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings which show:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of blank sheet used to form a packaging inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side perspective view of a packagingformed from the blank sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of blank sheet used to form a packaging inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a partially folded version of theblank sheet of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a nearly formed packaging formedfrom the blank sheet of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a finished packaging formed from theblank sheet of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingfigures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristicsof the present invention, proportional relationships of the elementshave not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

The following detailed description of the invention references specificembodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments areintended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Otherembodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. The present invention isdefined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not tobe taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a blank sheet is generally designatedby 10. In the example shown, it has a generally square shape. Differingfrom this, the shape can be rectangular or polygonal or round, inparticular circular or elliptic. A first and a second folding linearrangement may be provided on the blank sheet, prefabricated asmaterial weakening lines, for example by embossing or cutting, which donot completely pass through the thickness of the blank sheet material.The first folding line arrangement is designated with 12, the secondfolding line arrangement is designated with 14. The folding linearrangements shown in the examples of the present invention compriseonly one folding line.

The first folding line 12 and the second folding line 14 preferably comeinto contact at their longitudinal ends in a common contact area 16 or18. However, this is not required. In this way, the first folding line12 and the second folding line 14 completely enclose a first wallsection 20.

As shown, the first folding line 12 is located between a first wallsection 20 and a second wall section 22. Similarly, the second foldingline 14 is shown as being located between the first wall section 20 anda third wall section 24.

The blank sheet 10, which can be made from a biodegradable fibrematerial or at least comprises such a material, has a larger surfacethan the sum of the first wall section 20, the second wall section 22and the third wall section 24, because the wall sections 20, 22 and 24abut on a joining section 26. In one embodiment, the joining section 26extends completely at the outer border region of the blank sheet 10around the three wall sections 20, 22 and 24. The joining section 26 maybe provided with a cold sealing means, sealing only against itself andhaving no other adhesive effect. In this way, the blank sheet 10 can bestored as a stack without further measures and without individual sheets10 blocking each other.

Starting from the contact areas 16 and 18, a third folding line 28extends through the joining area 26 at both sides of the first wallsection 20.

In the example shown, the blank sheet 10 serves to package an object,for example a sandwich, with a triangular base area (outlined by abroken line as sandwich 30).

The sandwich 30 can be placed on the second wall section 22 and then itis possible to fold the first wall section 20 around the first foldingline 12 towards the sandwich 30 until a central region 20 a of the firstwall section, located between two longitudinal areas 20 b and 20 c ofthe latter, encloses a right angle with the second wall section 22.

In the longitudinal regions 20 b and 20 c, the distance between thefirst and the second folding lines 12 and 14 decreases towards thecontact areas 16 and 18, while in the central region 20 a of the firstwall section it is larger than in the longitudinal end sections 20 b and20 c. The central region 20 a and the longitudinal end sections 20 b and20 c of the first wall section correspond to the central region or thelongitudinal end sections of the first and second folding lines 12 or14. The distance between the two folding lines 12 and 14 in the centralregion 20 a of the first wall section 20 can be constant, i.e., thefolding lines 12 and 14 may be parallel in this region.

In a further folding step, the third wall section 24 can be foldedaround the second folding line 14 towards the sandwich 30 so that thewall sections 22 and 24 are arranged approximately in a parallel manner.The joining section 26 may be folded around the third folding line 28 sothat the joining section portions on either side of the third foldingline 28 come to lie on top of each other. The joining section portionslying on top of each other may then be pressed together and bonded.Because the joining section 26 passes around the wall sections 20, 22and 24, a packaging 32 can be formed which is completely closed towardsthe outer environment, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the packaging 32 formed of the blank sheet 10 from theoutside, while FIG. 1 shows what will become the inner sides of thepackaging. In FIG. 2, the wall sections are designated by the knownreference numbers for easier identification.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first wall section 20 at the finishedpackaging 32 is curved in a concave manner, when seen from the outside,with an axis of curvature which is orthogonal to the longitudinaldirection of the first wall section 20.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a blank sheet which, in contrast tothe packaging 32 in FIG. 2, results in a packaging with a generallyconstant clearance height across the width of the packaging. In theexample shown, a cube shaped packaging volume is provided in the centralregion of the generated packaging volume.

In the second embodiment, similar components or component parts andcomponents or component parts with the same function as in the firstembodiment are designated by the same reference numbers increased by100.

In the following, the second embodiment will only be described insofaras it differs from the first embodiment; reference will explicitly bemade to the first embodiment for explaining the second embodiment.

The blank sheet 110 of the second embodiment comprises a fourth wallsection 134 which may have the same shape as the first wall section 120.The fourth wall section 134 can be completely surrounded by a fourthfolding line 136 and a fifth folding line 138.

The fourth wall section may again comprise a central region 134 a, wherethe folding lines 136, 138 may have a greater distance from each otherthan in the common longitudinal end sections 134 b and 134 c of thefourth wall section 134 or the folding lines 136, 138; in thelongitudinal end sections 134 b and 134 c the distance between thefourth and the fifth folding line 136 a decreases towards the contactareas 116 and 118 until the folding lines 136, 138 meet preferably inthe contact areas 140 or 142 which correspond to the contact areas 116and 118 of the folding lines 112 and 114. A sixth folding line 144 mayrun on the other side of both longitudinal ends of the fourth wallsection 134 through the joining section 126 formed as parallel joiningsection portions 126 a and 126 b.

Each of the joining section portions 126 a and 126 b can run outside andalong the first wall section 120 and the fourth wall section 134, sothat the wall sections 120 and 134 are located between the joiningsection portions 126 a and 126 b.

The joining section portions 126 a and 126 b can be located at a borderregion of the substantially rectangular blank sheet 110, the first wallsection 120, the second wall section 122, the third wall section 124,the fourth wall section 134 and a fifth wall section 146 beingpreferably located between the joining section portions 126 a and 126 b.

The fifth wall section 146 may be separated from the fourth wall section134 by the fifth folding line 138. The third wall section 124 may bedefined in a transverse direction by the second folding line 114 and inthe opposite direction by the sheet edge 148. Similarly, the fifth wallsection 146 may be defined towards a transverse end by the fifth foldingline 138 and in the opposite direction by the sheet edge 150, the sheetedges 148 and 150 being preferably orthogonal to the joining sectionportions 126 a and 126 b.

For better closing properties of the packaging after folding, a joiningmeans 152 can be provided, for example at the border 148, for example inthe form of an interlocking formation. As a counterpart, a joining means154 can be provided at the opposite sheet edge 150, for example also inthe form of a form-fit interlocking counter formation.

An object to be packaged can be placed onto a blank sheet 110, forexample onto the second wall section 122. Then, the first wall section120 can be folded around the first folding line 112 and the fourth wallsection 134 can be folded around the fourth folding line 136 towardseach other, and, with the sides shown in FIG. 3 facing towards theobject to be packaged in relation to the second wall section 122. FIG. 4shows the beginning of such a folding. Similarly, the third wall section124 can be folded around the second folding line 114 and the fifth wallsection 146 around the fifth folding line 138 towards the object to bepackaged (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows the packaging 132 in an almost finished state; thepackaging is in a finished state in FIG. 6. The joining section portions126 a and 126 b are folded back onto themselves and have been bonded toeach other so that the longitudinal ends of the packaging 132 are closedby a crosslink section. The third and the fifth wall sections 124 and146 are interlocked with each other by the joining means and joiningcounter means 152 and 154. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the interlocking formations142 and 144 are formed inversely compared to the FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6, in turn, show surfaces of the wall sections of the blankportion, which are not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, because FIGS. 3 and 4show what will later be the inner surfaces of the wall sections 120,122, 124, 134 and 146, while the FIGS. 5 and 6 show the outer surfacesof the latter.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and iswithin the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of theinvention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it isalso to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and notlimiting.

The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in thedrawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended tolimit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, therehas been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention.As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of thepresent invention are not limited by the particular details of theexamples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur tothose skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similarterms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of“optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the presentconstruction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. Allsuch changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention aredeemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by theclaims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. Method for packaging an object having a defined product form in a folded packaging, the method comprising the steps of: providing a planar blank sheet, the blank sheet comprising: a first wall section defined between first and second folding line arrangements, wherein a distance between the first and second line arrangements is smaller at longitudinal end sections of the first wall section than at a central section of the first wall section located between the longitudinal end sections of the first wall section; at least second and third wall sections, between which the first wall section is located; a first joining section, wherein at least a portion of the first joining section is adjacent the second wall section; and a second joining section, wherein at least a portion of the second joining section is adjacent the third wall section; wherein the first folding line arrangement is located between the first and second wall sections, and wherein the second folding line arrangement is located between the first and third wall sections; placing the object to be packaged on the blank sheet; folding the blank sheet around one of the folding line arrangements in such a way that outer surfaces of two of the wall sections located on the same side of the blank sheet are facing towards the object to be packaged; folding the blank sheet around the other of the folding line arrangements in such a way that outer surfaces of three said wall sections located on the same side of the blank sheet are facing towards the object to be packaged, and wherein outer surfaces of the second and third wall sections are facing towards each other; arranging the first joining section directly opposite the second joining section; and joining the first and second joining sections, forming a packaging volume defined by the first, second and third wall sections as well as by the joining sections, wherein the object to be packaged is located within the packaging volume.
 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second joining section portions extend along at least one of the longitudinal end sections of the first wall section.
 3. Method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of folding at least one of the first and second joining section portions around a third folding line arrangement, wherein the third folding line arrangement extends through the first wall section into at least one of the joining section portions.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second joining section portions is at least partially provided with at least one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a cold sealing medium that generally only seals against itself, and a form-fit formation.
 5. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of activating at least one of the first and second joining section portions by pulling off a release layer therefrom.
 6. Method according to claim 3, wherein the planar blank sheet comprises at least a fourth folding line arrangement defined thereon, wherein the fourth folding line arrangement is located between the second wall section and a fourth wall section, and wherein the second wall section is located between the first wall section and the fourth wall section; and wherein the method further comprises the step of folding the blank sheet around the fourth folding line arrangement in such a way that outer surfaces of the second wall section and the fourth wall section located on the same side of the blank sheet are facing towards the object to be packaged.
 7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the planar blank sheet comprises a fifth folding line arrangement defined thereon, wherein the fourth folding line arrangement and the fifth folding line arrangement define the fourth wall section therebetween, wherein the distance between the fourth folding line arrangement and the fifth folding line arrangement is smaller at longitudinal end sections of the fourth wall section than at a central section of the fourth wall section located between the longitudinal end sections of the fourth wall section; wherein the planar blank sheet comprises a fifth wall section, being adjacent to the fourth wall section in such a way that the fifth folding line arrangement is located between the fourth wall section and the fifth wall section; and wherein the method further comprises the step of folding the blank sheet around the fifth folding line arrangement in such a way that the outer surfaces of the third wall section and the fifth wall section located at the same side of the blank sheet are facing towards the object to be packaged, in such a way that the surfaces of the third wall section and the fifth wall section located at the same side of the blank sheet are facing each other.
 8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the step of folding the third wall section and the first wall section in relation to each other around the second folding line arrangement and the step folding the fifth wall section and the fourth wall section in relation to each other around the fifth folding line arrangement comprises a step of partially overlapping the third wall section and the fifth wall section.
 9. Method according to claim 8, wherein at the end of the overlapping step, a surface of one of the third wall section and the fifth wall section which is facing away from the object to be packaged is facing towards a surface of the other of the third wall section and the fifth wall section which is facing towards the object to be packaged.
 10. Method according to claim 8, wherein a border region of the third wall section remote to the first wall section is provided with a joining means, and wherein a border region of the fifth wall section remote to the fourth wall section is provided by a joining counter means, and wherein the joining means and the joining counter means are adapted for joining engagement.
 11. Method according to claim 8, wherein one of the first and second joining section portions extends along at least one longitudinal end section of the fourth wall section, and wherein the other of the first and second joining section portions extends along at least an opposing longitudinal end section of the fourth wall section.
 12. Method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of folding at least one of the first and second joining section portions around a sixth folding line arrangement, wherein the sixth folding line arrangement extends through the fourth wall section into at least one of the joining section portions.
 13. Method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second joining section portions extend generally parallel to each other, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth wall sections are located between the first and second joining section portions.
 14. Blank sheet for forming a folded packaging, the blank sheet comprising: a first wall section defined between first and second folding line arrangements, wherein a distance between the first and second folding line arrangements is smaller at longitudinal end sections of the first wall section than at a central section of the first wall section located between the longitudinal end sections of the first wall section; at least second and third wall sections, between which the first wall section is located; and at least one joining section, of which at least a portion is adjacent to the second wall section and the third wall section, wherein the at least one joining section is provided with at least one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a cold sealing medium that generally only seals against itself; wherein the first folding line arrangement is located between the first wall section and the second wall section, and wherein the second folding line arrangement is located between the first wall section and the third wall section.
 15. Blank sheet according to claim 14, wherein the blank sheet is substantially mirror-symmetric in a main extension plane, wherein a mirror symmetry axis extends through the first wall section.
 16. Blank sheet according to claim 14 further comprising a third folding line arrangement located between the second wall section and the fourth wall section, wherein the second wall section is located between the first wall section and the fourth wall section.
 17. Blank sheet according to claim 16 further comprising a fourth folding line arrangement and a fifth wall section; wherein the fourth wall section is defined between the third and fourth folding line arrangements, and wherein a distance between the third and fourth folding line arrangements is smaller at longitudinal end sections of the fourth wall section than at a central section of the fourth wall section located between the longitudinal end sections of the fourth wall section; wherein the fifth wall section is adjacent the fourth wall section in such a way that the fourth folding line arrangement is located between the fourth wall section and the fifth wall section.
 18. Blank sheet according to claim 14, wherein the blank sheet is substantially rectangular and further comprises at least two border regions that are arranged at a distance from each other, are extending substantially parallel to one another, and are adapted as joining section portions.
 19. Blank sheet according to claim 16, wherein the first wall section and the fourth wall section have substantially the same shape. 